AP Environmental Science Syllabus:

Transcription

1 Course Description: AP Environmental Science Syllabus: This class will look at many topics in Environmental Science. We will cover major environmental topics such as biodiversity, global warming, energy, the atmosphere, water, soil, human populations and waste. Because this course is Environmental SCIENCE and not Environmental Studies, it will fulfill the 20% College Board and Texas requirements by providing a large laboratory and field investigation component. This allows students to learn about the environment through first hand observation. It is my hope that you will come out of the class with a better understanding and appreciation for the world around you. Textbook: Living in the Environment by G. Tyler Miller Jr. (Pacific Grove, Calif.: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning 16 th edition, 2010). A semester Reading will be assigned and mandatory. Contact Information: Richard Johnson richarddjohnson@katyisd.org GRADES: 70% Tests 20% Projects and Labs 10% Miscellaneous Assignments MATERIALS: 1 3 ring binder Fine Point Blue or Black PENS Access to a computer with Internet Text: Living in the Environment by Miller 16 th Edition e-edition TUTORING: 6:45 7:25 am Monday through Thursday TESTS: All tests in this class will be timed. This is to prepare you for the AP exam. Tests will be multiple choice and free response. It is my responsibility as an AP teacher to prepare the students for the AP exam. There will be a practice exam in May to help make sure you are ready for the exam. An AP practice exam will be administered on a Saturday in April. AP EXAM DATE: May 4 th, 2015 at 8:00 am

2 Human Populations Human population sizes & distribution Distribution and fertility rates Growth rate and doubling times Demographic transitions Age Structure Diagrams Pesticides and Agriculture Types of pesticides Cost and benefits of pesticide use Integrated Pest Management Third Rock from the Sun Geologic time scale Plate tectonics Earthquakes & volcanoes Rock cycle Waste Management Solid waste disposal and reduction Hazard chemicals and wastes Soil Formation and composition Physical and chemical properties Soil types Erosion and other soil problems Conservation Forestry and Rangeland Terrestrial Ecology Population dynamics Communities and niches Terrestrial biomes Energy flow and pyramids Biogeochemical cycles Energy concepts Fisheries and aquatic environments Winter Break Aquatic Ecology Eutrophication Freshwater biomes Surface and groundwater issues Conservation Saltwater Ocean circulation Global problems Fishing techniques Overfishing Relevant laws and treaties Biodiversity Species diversity COURSE OUTLINE Topic Duration 3 weeks 3 weeks 2.5 weeks 2.5 weeks

3 Preservation, remediation, mitigation, restoration Habitat loss Exotic species Endangered and extinct species Deforestation Economic impacts and decisions Nonrenewable Resources and Energy Energy forms, units and conversions History and global energy use Mining Fossil fuel resources and use Nuclear energy Renewable energy Energy conservation Economic impacts and decisions 2.5 weeks Water Pollution Sources, causes and effects Surface and groundwater issues Cultural Eutrophication Water purification Sewage treatment Human health risks Clean Water Act and other laws Air Air pollution Smog Acid deposition Indoor air pollutants Clean Air Act and other laws Human health risks Stratospheric ozone and ozone depletion Global warming Economic impacts Climate Change Global Warming Theories Seasons Solar intensity and latitude ENSO Weather and climate Atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect Prepare for the AP Exam END OF SCHOOL

4 Labs and Activities: Terrestrial Ecology Tragedy of the Commons EcoColumn Community Structure Terrestrial Ecology Field Study Third Rock from the Sun Earthquake activity Rock cycle and formation activity Aquatic Ecology Estimating populations of Daphnia Web assignment on water management Water, water everywhere Aquatic field study Ecobottles completed Human Populations World Population Lab Histogram Lab Too Many People Activity Comparing the populations in China and India Biodiversity Research animals in captivity Endangered species Nonrenewable Resources and Energy Solar panel lab Cookie lab Renewable Energy poster assignment Research on nuclear energy Ecohouse construction and presentation Soil Soil texture lab Soil permeability lab Soil chemical lab Soil bulk density and structure lab Water Organic waste and its effect on dissolved oxygen Fish lab- Nuclear energy and its effect on the environment Sewage treatment lab Field trip to sewage treatment plant Air Air pollution lab- Sulfur and Nitrogen dioxides Volcano activity Pesticides Pesticide label lab Toxicity of herbicides lab Earthworm and pesticide lab Waste Management Landfill and composting research Collecting and Measurement of Trash activity

5 APES Survival Guide Welcome to AP Environmental Science (APES). This should prove to be a challenging and rewarding course for everyone. It is your responsibility to read, know, and abide by the following policies. Any questions or concerns must be addressed at the beginning of the school year. Classroom Rules 1. Respect Others, Respect Self 2. If you are unsure of a rule, see if your action breaks rule #1. Consequences of Breaking our Classroom Rules 1. Warning 2. Loss of classroom privileges and possible permanent seat change to a location of my choosing 3. Contact parents regarding behavior 4. Contact of grade level and parents regarding behavior Tardies You are required to be in your seat, with all necessary materials for that day readily available, ready to work, on time. The school-wide tardy policy is in effect. Absences You are expected to attend class everyday. If you are absent the following policies apply. Absent on the day an assignment is due, present when it was assigned it is due your first day back. Absent on the day an assignment is due, not present when it was assigned it is due your second day back. Absent for part of a lab obtain data from lab partners, it is due on time. Absent for an entire lab or activity obtain an alternate assignment (2-3 page paper). Absent for a test a cumulative make-up test will be offered during the last week of the grading period. Late assignments (not due to absence) may receive partial credit, depending on the circumstances. Make-up quizzes or in-class essays must be arranged by the STUDENT It is your responsibility to be aware when you need to make up an assignment, lab, or test and to do it on time. Grades Each assignment you complete and submit, on-time, will be graded with points assigned based on a universally applied, objective grading scheme for that assignment. Approximate point values for assignments follow. Tests Homework Labs & Activities Quizzes Projects

6 Labs The laboratory is a special situation that you will encounter in this class. Labs can be fun and rewarding learning experiences, and they can also be extremely dangerous. The rules in the laboratory must be strict. Always follow safety rules Safety first, Safety Last, Safety Always!! When in doubt Ask. The consequence of breaking a laboratory rule is exclusion from the lab and no credit for the lab. Guidelines for Preparing and Maintaining the Lab Binder sections Use a graph paper for data. Write only in ink. The lab binder must contain a record of all materials and procedures used in performing the lab (a scientifically literate stranger should be able to execute any of the labs within your lab notebook without any additional information). Record all data directly into the lab section. Initial and date all data the day it is collected. Strike out incorrect information and mistakes with a single horizontal line. Use the first two pages of the notebook for the Table of Contents. Begin a Table of Contents on page 1. After each unit is completed, add its name and page number to the Table of Contents. Be prepared to turn in your class notebook at any time during a 6-week period.

7 Guidelines for Planning and Completing a Scientific Graph (Mandatory - I am not kidding ) Draw the graph directly into the lab binder. Do not paste it in. Use the full extent of the graph paper in each direction for the graph. Include a figure number and descriptive title at the top of the graph. Unless otherwise instructed, plot the independent variable (the variable set before the experiment begins) along the x-axis, and plot the dependent variable (the variable measured as the experiment progresses) along the y-axis. Label both axes with the variable name (measured or predetermined quantity) and the units of measurement. Plan the graph so that the data fills most of the available space on the graph paper. Do not squish the data into one area of the graph. Evenly space the tick marks on both axes and clearly label them. Do not plot data points on the axes. Data points must be clearly visible, identifiable, and unambiguous.